Earth loader



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,330 E. B. WINTERS I EARTH LOADER Filed May 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet} w INVENIOR fW/ardEJV/nfem B Y N I u G rm/2N5 1' Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

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PAT NT orrica EDWARD B. WINTERS, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS.

EARTH LOADER.

Application aied na 15, 1922. Serial no. 560,929.

To (ZZZ 10 [tom it may concern .Be it known that I, EDWARD .13.; WINTERS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Coffeyville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements'in- Earth Loaders; and I do declare the, following to bee-full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the'figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. c

This invention relates to an earth loader; that is, to a device or mechanism for receiving rocks, sand, gravel, earth and the like from a suitable source and loading it into a receptacle or wagon designed to receive it.

In clearing off the surface of the ground it is necessary frequently to haul away the superfluous material. My invention is particularly designed for receiving the removed surface material from the scraper or slip and elevate it into dumping position so that it may be discharged into a wagon or other receptacle. 1 I a a It is one of the important features of my invention that the dumping can automatically respond :to the movement of the shovel or slip through a path in which certain tripping mechanism of'the earth loader is located.

T -he novel construction of my invention will be apparent by reference to the followdescription in connection with .the acsition it will assume when the elevator is being actuated and when the latch is ready to move into latching position. I

F ig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional yiew through the elevator slide and latch in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1- is a side elevational view of the elevator slide and latch, showingit in latch position after the elevator has been raised, and 4 I I Fig. 5 is a perspective view .of the earth loader showing the elevator in the position itwill assume when dumping into the wagon or receptacle. c

respectively. The elevating levers are piv- In carrying out my invention I providea ground frame which may consist of a plurality of longitudinal sills, individually des ignated 1, 2 and3. The ends of the sills 1 and 3 are connected by cross sills ei and 5,

the short sill 2 being connected to the cross or end sill and an intermediate cross sill 6. This constitutes a ground frame which supports the elevator. 7 i s F astenedto the longitudinal sill 1' is another skeleton frame 7, which is preferably rectangular and which may be'of any preferred construction provided with a guide rail 8 at right angles to the sills 1 and 3 and supported above them, the rail 8 being provided with a buffer or shock absorber 9 -at one end and receiving a sliding elevator actuator, the details of which will be specifi callyreferred to hereinafter. 75

Carriedby the frame formed by the sills 1 and 3 and their complementary members are two arcuate racks 10 and 11, appropriately braced on the frame and preferably connected together by a crossbar 12. Meshingwith the teeth of the racks 10 and 11 are two pinions 13 and 14, rigidly connected together bya shaft 15 mounted in bearings 16 and 17 on the two elevatinglevers 18 and '19 oted to the ground frame at their lower ends by a transverse shaft .or pivot rod 20, which may pass through the longitudinal sills 1 and, 3, and to the upper ends of the lovers is pivoted a hopper 21, having a bottom wall 22, a rear wall 23 and two end walls 24 and 25. The rear wall 23 and the end wall 25 are shown as rigid with the floor 2 but the end wallc25 is hinged at 26 and 27 to constitute a gate which may normally be held closed by a spring 28, one end of which engages the gate and the other end engaging a rigid part on the hopper as, for example, the upright 29 for the inclined guide rail 30, there being" a complementary guide rail 31 near the end wall 24-, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. s

The inclined rails 30 and 31 are spaced apart but are close enough together .to receive a slip or road shovel 32 of appropriate construction, having the usual trough yoke 33; there being an actuator-bail. 34;, however, connected to the yoke, which is a "departure from the usual constructionjof slip but the bail 34: 1s a desirable part of the road slip orscraper, as willbe apparent hereinafter. I v i Attention is called to the fact that the shaft is loosely mounted in the bearings on the levers 18 and 19 and that it serves as a winding drum or shaft to which one end of a flexible cable 35 is fastened, the other end of th flexible cable being fastened to a spring 36 which may be anchored to any part of the frame but it is here shown as fastened to the shaft 20 at 37.

To the rail 2 is fastened one endof a tension spring 38,'the other end of the ten sion spring being fastened to the intermediate portion of a chain 39, one end of which is anchored at 4:0 to the bottom of the hopper 21 and the other end to the hinged wall 25 of the hopper; it being the purpose of the in.- vention to so proportion the springs 38 and 28 that 28 will normally maintain the door or hinged end wall 25 in hopper closing position but when the tension of the spring 38 preponderates over the tension of the spring, 28, then the door will open or, as sometimes may happen, when the combined load within the hopper and the tension of the spring 38 preponderates over the tension of the spring 28, the door 25 will open because it is apparent that when the hopper is inclined, as shown in Fig. 5, the weight of the load will assist the spring 38 in opening the door that is, throw the end wall 25 down to dumping position, as shown in Fig. 5. In order to prevent theload from tipping the rear end of the hopper when it is being raised, I provide a stay cable 41, one end of which is fastened to the sill 2 and the other to the bottom of the hopper 21 (see Fig. 8).

By reference to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be observed that the rotating shaft 15 carries at one end a winding drum 12, around which a cable 13 passes. The cable as also passes around a sheave or pulley a l, carried by the frame 7 and has its end fastened to the depending arm 15 of the elevator slide 45. The depending arm is supported by a slide bracket 16 and it has aport-ion bent over a horizontal flange 48 of th angle bar 8 and an end bent around the vertical flange 47 of the angle bar 8 and then bent up to form one bearing for a roller 49. the roller also being supported in the bearing in arm as will be clearly apparent by reference to Fig. 2.

The cap portion of the arm 45' is fastened to the slide bracket 46 by fastening devices 50. The brackethas an offset portion or shoulder 51 and a. rearwardly projecting portion 51, the latter carrying an inverted U-shaped member 52 in which is a roller 53 bearing upon the flange 18. The end of the roller 53 supports a latch consisting of p a rear bar 5 1 and two side bars 55 and 56.

member 51' and they are normally held in that position by a spring 57, one end of which is fastened to th arm 45 and the other end to an ofiset arm 58 carried by the side arm 55. It will be noted that depend ing from the rear bar 54 is a latch lip or projection 59, adjacent to the handle, 60; the projection 59 being adapted to ride behind the end bar 61 of the frame 7. Normally, however, the whole slide mechanism will be adjacent to the bumper or shock absorber 9 as, for example, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1.

hen it is desired to elevate a load deride over the slide and on contacting with the arms 55 and 56, the arms will be depressed to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the bail will come into contact with the shoulder 51 and as the horses or draft animals travel away from the ground frame, that is,beyond the end bar 61 of the frame 7, the slide will be pulled toward the end bar, putting tension on the cable 418 and as the cable 13 is paid out from the drum 12, the pinions 13 and 1 1 will be rotated over the rack teeth. As they rotate they will climb the rack teeth and carry with them the levers 18 and 19, raising the hopper to the position shown in Fig. 5. It will be observed that the pinions travel past the center of gravity so that when the elevator consisting of the elevating parts and the hopper 21 reach the position shown in Fig. 5, there will be no tendency for them to turn except through the medium of the return motor consisting of the cable '35 which has been wound about the shaft 15 while the cable 1-3 was unwinding from the pulley or drum42. The elevator. however. cannot return to normal position because by the time that the ele vator is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the slide will have moved toward the bar 61 so as 'to contact with it andthe side bars and 56 will ultimately come into contact with the lateral flange 62 of the bar 61 so that the side bars 55 and 56 of the yoke consisting of the members 54, 55 and 56 will be swung up to the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the latch lip 25 will be thrown behind the bar 61 and latch there until manuallv released by tilting the handle 60.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, obviously the hopper will be held in the position shown in Fig. 5. The operator then releases the latch lip from the to receive another load.

It is apparent-,of course, that asthe hop peris raised, tension will be put upon the spring 38 and since the spring 88 is connected to the chain 39, it is obvious .that

there'will be a pull on the end wall or gate 25, which, with the'load, will be sutiicient to preponderate over. the tension .of the spring 28 and allow' the gate toswing to dumping position, when the parts have assumed the position shown in Fig; 5. Just as soon as the hopper returns to the, position shown in Fig. 1,.the tension of the spring 38 will be relieved and there will be slack in the chain 89 so'the spring 28 may then close the door or gate 25 to the position shown in Fig. 1. i

It will be apparent that every time the slip passes over the inclined mem'bers'SO and 31, the bail will come into contact with the elevatorslide so asto move it along with the slip as it travels over theframe 7 and,

therefore, raise the elevator to the position shown in Fig. '5 and hold itthere until it is manually released so if there is .a wagon or receptacle in front of the gate 25 when the hopper is moved to dumping position, it is obvious that the dirt orearth will be deposited into the vehicle orreceptacle' The device is practically automatic, the

only manually operatiiigfipart being thelatch for the elevator slide which must be released, in'order to allow the elevator to move back into normal position, as shown in Fig. -1. Therefore, the loading "can be accomplished in an expeditious and convenient manner and where ta number of slips are used, it is obvious that the loading can be conveniently and quickly accomplished much more quickly than could be, accomplished without it.

What I. claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is g 1. An earth dumping mechanism comprising ajbase, arms pivoted to the base, a hopper pivoted to the arms, a shaftrotatably mounted on thearms,-pinions carried by the shaft, arcuate rack bars over which the pin ions travel to raise the armswhen they rotate in one direction and to lower them when sition.

rotating in an oppositedirection, a winding drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on the .drum, and means for unwinding the cable on the drum to rotate the pinion shaft. to cause the pinions to pass over the arcuate racks to move the arms in 2. An earth dumping mechanism comprisrotating in an opposite direction, a winding the drum, and means for unwinding the hopper-ra sing po ing a base, arms pivoted to the base, a hopperpivoted to the arms, a shaft rotatably mounted on the arms, pinions carried by the ;shaft,arcuate rack bars over Whichthe .pinionstra-vel toraisethearms when they rotate in one, direction and to lower them when rotating infan opposite direction, a winding drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on they drum, means for unwinding the cable on y the drum to rotate the pinion shaft to cause the pinions to pass over the arcuate racks to move the'arms lIl hopper-raising position, a gate on the hopper, and a spring having one end connected to the gate, the spring being put under tension when the hopper is in Zraised position so that the gate will be moved to open position. i

.3. ,An earth dumping mechanism comprising a base, arms pivoted to the base, a hopper pivoted to the arms, a shaft rotatably 'mounted on the arms, pinions carried by the shaft, arcuate rack bars over which the pin ions travel to raise the arms when they rotate in one direction and to lower them when drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on the drum, means for unwinding the cable onthe drum to rotate the pinion shaft to cause the pinions to pass over the arcuate racks to move the arms in hopper-raising position, a gateon the hopper, a spring having one end connected to the gate, the spring being put under tension when the hopper is in raised positionso thatthe gate will be moved to open position, and aspring connected to'the hopper and to thegate opposingthe first named spring, the tension of which is suflicient to normally holdthe gate closed when tension on thefirst named springis relieved. I

. 4. An earth dumping mechanism comprising a base, arms pivoted to the base, a hopper pivoted tothe arms, a shaft rot-atably mounted on thearms, pinions carried by'the shaft, arcuate rack bars over which the pinions travel to raise the arms when they rotate in one direction and to lower them when rotating inan opposite direction, a winding drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on cable on'the drum to rotate the pinion shaft to cause the pinions topass over the arcuate racks to move thearms in hopper-raising position, the means for operating the cable I comprising a guide bar, a slide mounted on the ,Qjllld bar, and connected to the cable,

and means on the guide barfor engagement with a road shovel whereby the movement of the road shovel transversely across the hopper to deliver thecontents of the road shovel into the'hopper will beefi'ective in moving 5. Anearth dumping mechanism comprising a base, arms pivoted to the base, a hop-j the slide to effect unwinding movement of the cable.

tat-e inone direction and to lower them when rotating in an opposite direction, a wlndlng drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on the drum, means for unwinding the cable on the drum to rotate the pinion shaft to cause the pinions to pass over the arcuate racks to move the arms in hopper-raising position,

the means for operating the cable comprising a guide bar, a slide mounted on the guide bar, and connected to the cable, and means on the guide bar for engagement with a road shovel whereby the movement of the road shovel transversely across the hopper to de liver the contents of the road shovel into the hopper will be effective in moving the slide to effect unwinding movement of the cable,

ing a base frame, vertical arcuate racks carried by the frame, pivoted arms carried by the frame, a pinion shaft carried by the arms, pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks, a pivoted hopper carried by the upper'ends of the arms, a swinging gate for thehopper, a spring normally holding the gate closed, a flexible connection, one end of which is fastened to the hopper and the other to the gate, a spring anchored at one end and connected at the other end to the flexible connection so that when the hopper is raised, the spring will be put under tension to preponderate over the first named spring and cause the gate to open, and means for turning the pinion shaft.

7. Anearth dumping mechanism'comprising a base frame, vertical arcuate racks carried by the frame, pivoted arms carried by the frame, a pinion shaft carried by the arms, pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks, a pivoted hopper carried by the upper 'endsof'the arms, a swinging gate for the hopper, a spring normally holding the gate closed, a flexible connection, one end of which is fastened to the hopper and the a other to the gate, a spring anchored at one end and connected at the other end to the flexible connection so that whenthe hopper is raisechrthe spring will be put under ten- "sion' to preponderate over the first named springs and cause the gate to open, a drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on the drum when the hopper is in its lowered position and unwound from the drum when the pinions to travel over the rack, a frame in the path of the hopper when the hopper is in repose, means for guiding a road shovel or slip over'the hopper, a slide carried by the second mentioned frame to be engaged by the road shovel or slip to have movement imparted to it when the road shovel or slip passes over the hopper, and a connection between the cable and the slide whereby when the slide moves in one direction the cable will be unwound from the drum.

8. An earth dumping mechanism comprising a base frame, Vertical arcuate racks carried by the frame, pivoted arms carried by the frame, a pinion shaft carried by the arms, pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks, apivoted hopper carried by the upper ends of the arms, a swinging gate for the hopper, a spring normally holding the gate closed, a flexible connection, one end' of which is fastened to the hopper and the other to the gate, a spring anchored at one end and connected at the other end to the flexible connection so that when the hopper is raised, the spring will be put under tension to preponderate over the first named spring and cause the gate to open, a drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on the drum when the hopper is in its lowered position and unwound from the drum when the hopper is in its raised position, theunwinding movement of the cable impartinga rotary motion to the shaft so as to cause the pinions to travel over the'rack, a frame in the path'of the hopper when the hopper is in repose, means for guiding a road shovel or slip over the hopper, a slide carried by the second mentioned frame to be engaged by the road shovel or slip to have movement imparted'to it when the road shovel or slip passes over the hopper, a connection between the cable and the slide whereby when the slide moves in one direction the cable will be unwound from the drum, and means on the slide for mechanically engaging the frame when the slide reaches the limit of its movement so that the slide will be held rigid with the frame and the hopper will be held in'an' elevated position.

9. An earth dumping mechanism comprising a base frame, vertical arcuate racks carried by the frame, pivoted arms carried by the frame, a pinion shaft carried by the arms, pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks, .a pivoted hopper carried by the up- Y per'ends of the arms, a swinging gate for the hopper, a spring normally holdin'gthe gate closed, a flexible connection, one end of which is fastened to the hopper and the other to the gate, a spring anchored at one end and connected at the other end to the flexible connection so that when the hopper is'raised, the spring will be put under tension to 'preponderate over the first named spring and cause the gate to open, a drum on the pinion shaft, a cable wound on the drum when the hopper is in its lowered position and unwound from the drum when the hopper is in its raised position, the unwinding movement of the cable imparting a rotary motion to the shaft so as tocause the pinions to travel over the racks, a frame in the path of the hopper when the hopper is in repose, means for guiding a road shovel or slip over the hopper, aslide carried by the second mentioned frame to be engaged by the road shovel or slip to have movement imparted to it when the road shovel or slip passes over the hopper, a connection between the cable and the slide whereby when the Slide moves in one direction the cable will be. unwound from the drum, means on the slide for mechanically engaging the frame when the slide reaches the limit of its movement so that the slide will be held-rigid with the frame and the hopper will be held in an elevated position, and means for releasing the slide from engagement with the frame.

10. An earth dumping mechanism comprising a base frame, vertical arcuate racks carried by the frame, pivoted arms carried by the frame, a pinion shaft carriedby the arms,pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks, a pivoted hopper carried by. the upper ends of the arms, a swinging gate for the hopper, a spring normally holding the gate closed, a flexible connection, one end of which is fastened to the hopper and the other to the gate, a spring anchored at one end and connected at the other end to the flexible connection so that when the hopper is raised,the spring. will be put under ten-.

sion to preponderate over' the first named spring and cause the gate to open, a drum on the pinionshaft, a cable wound on the drum when the hopper is in its lowered position and unwound from the drum when the hopper is in its raised position, the unwinding'movement of the cable imparting a rotary motion'to theishaft so as to cause the pinions totravel'over the racks, a frame in the path of the hopper when the hopper is .in repose, means for guiding a road shovel or slip over the hopper, a slide carried by the second mentioned frame to be engaged by the road shovel or slip to have movement imparted to'it when the road shovel or slip passes over the hopper, a connection between the cable and the slide; whereby when the slide moves in one direction the cable will therefromwvhen the slide approximates the 7 limit of its movement induced by contact with the shovel or slip.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. j I

EDWARD B. WINTERS. 

